The Prince William County Police Department is urgently seeking public assistance to locate Caleb Anthony Beer, a missing endangered adult last contacted on April 6, known to frequent areas in Culpeper, Stafford, Woodbridge, and Dumfries, with his safety currently in question due to undisclosed reasons.
*MISSING ENDANGERED ADULT: The Prince William County Police Department is asking for the public's help locating Caleb Anthony BEER who was reported missing by family members on April 19. Family members became concerned after not hearing from Caleb for several days with the last known contact with Caleb being on April 6. During the ongoing investigation, additional information was recently obtained by detectives leading to increased concern for Caleb’s wellbeing and has prompted him to now be considered endangered. Currently, it is undetermined if Caleb is missing due to voluntary reasons, or possible foul play. Caleb is unhoused and known to frequent Culpeper, Stafford, Woodbridge, and Dumfries, and unhoused encampment areas. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of this person or information that can otherwise aid in the investigation is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or your local police department.
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Sanctuary jurisdictions typically have regulations that limit cooperation with ICE, impacting the enforcement of immigration laws. These measures may include refusing ICE detainers, restricting agency interactions with ICE, or hindering the sharing of information about incarcerated aliens.
ICE uses detainers as a key mechanism to detain aliens involved in criminal activities, ensuring their custody transfer for deportation. These detainers provide details about the individual’s criminal and immigration history, highlighting their public safety or security risk.
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Vindman sought to energize his base and draw a contrast with his Republican opponent, Derek Anderson, in the closely watched race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Woodbridge. With only 84 days until Election Day, Vindman emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, framing it as a critical moment for the nation and the community.
In his speech, the retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel invoked his personal story as an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. with his family, possessing little more than the hope of achieving the American dream. “The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher,” Vindman said, underscoring his belief that the very essence of that dream is on the line. He criticized the rhetoric coming from the Republican Party, likening it to what one might hear in authoritarian regimes such as North Korea, Iran, or Russia. Vindman argued that such narratives undermine the fundamental values that make the United States great.
Vindman’s message was tailored to national issues and specific concerns in the 7th District, including Northern Virginia communities such as Woodbridge and Dale City. “When I had the opportunity to retire, I chose to retire here in Northern Virginia,” Vindman said, describing his newfound connection to the area where he and his wife, Cindy, chose to live after he left the military in 2022.
Vindman’s brother, Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, made headlines for his testimony during the 2019 impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump after he reported concerns about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine after hearing Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while serving on the National Security Council.
Eugene Vindman addressed challenges related to Interstate 95, a major transportation artery in the region. He called for improvements to make it multimodal and accept trains and buses to shuttle commuters to Washington, D.C. He also spoke about the importance of maintaining high-quality schools for his family and all families in the district.Â
The topic of education led Vindman to denounce efforts by some in the district to ban and even burn books, specifically mentioning Stafford County School district banning several gender-bending books some parents decried as pornographic: “They want to cover up our history, and that’s just plain unacceptable,” Vindman declared.
A Vindman media relations manager denied a request to make Vindman available for press questions at this event.Â
Vindman’s speech also touched on Project 2025, an initiative championed by the non-profit Heritage Foundation that he described as a “significant threat to the social safety net.” Vindman erroneously tied Project 2025 with Republican candidates and his opponent instead of the non-profit think tank that authored it.
Vindman emphasized the potential economic impact of eliminating 50,000 civil service jobs. “Can you imagine those high-paying civil service jobs being eliminated or moved out? What would that do to this economy? How would that devastate this economy?” Vindman asked rhetorically to the group.
Despite Vindman’s assertions, Anderson has not backed Project 2025. In a statement to the Washington Post, Anderson said that he does “not support any initiatives that will hurt national security.” An Anderson campaign spokesman said, “This is not something our campaign has ever talked about. Derrick Anderson has been clear that he always places the needs of the country over party, anything that will negatively affect families in VA-07 won’t be supported, and he encourages voters to fact check [Vindman’s] claims.”
Throughout his speech, Vindman attempted to draw a line between him and Anderson, an Army Green Beret, whom he accused of being “bought and paid for by MAGA.” Anderson is a decorated Army Green Beret with six overseas deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and Bahrain.
Vindman pointed to the difference in campaign donations as evidence of their differing loyalties, noting that his average donation is just $27, while Anderson’s financial support comes from “Ultra MAGA” sources. Vindman argued that Anderson would vote in line with those interests if elected, to the detriment of the district and the nation.
Vindman did not mention the ongoing controversy of purported unauthorized small-dollar donations linked to the Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue. These so-called small-dollar donations appear as grass-roots support, but many donors claim to have never authorized those donations.Â
According to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Barbara Staples, a Springhill, Texas retiree, purportedly made 53 small-dollar donations to ActBlue in a single day and 1,600 other donation transactions since 2022. The FEC website shows five small-dollar contributions on June 16, 2024. When asked, Staples said she hadn’t made any donations.Â
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyaras announced an investigation into these allegedly fraudulent donations by ActBlue earlier this month, joining a list of state Attorneys General investigating the organization for potential laundering of illegal foreign campaign donations.
The National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bowmar doubled down on the accusations against ActBlue donations and Vindman’s assertions of small-dollar donations, “Vindman’s campaign war chest doubles as a piggy bank for anti-Israel extremists: campaign donations go in, anti-Israel policies spew out. We know Vindman will kowtow to extremists who burn down college campuses – just check the receipts.”Â
Early voting in Virginia begins September 20, 2024. The final day for in-person precinct voting is November 5, 2024. For more information on voting, elections.virginia.gov.
Dumfries Vice Mayor Monae Nickerson is leading a renewed effort to attract more small businesses to the town as it prepares for the opening of The Rose, a 300-room gaming resort and hotel set to become the largest gaming destination in Northern Virginia. Town leaders are focused on creating a diverse mix of retail and service businesses to complement the expected influx of visitors with the resort's opening.
Nickerson outlined the town’s strategy, which includes a year-long contract extension with Retail Strategies, a firm hired to identify and attract potential businesses to Dumfries. "We are hopeful that the Rose will serve as a beacon, an anchor, that will attract more businesses to Dumfries as a destination," Nickerson said. The Rose, which will offer video slot machines but not table games, is expected to draw visitors from across the region.
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Winners Church is partnering with Sentara to host the annual Community Health Fair on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 17877 Old Triangle Road in Dumfries. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with various health services and screenings available to the community.
A significant feature of this year’s fair is the presence of Sentara’s Mobile Mammography Unit, offering 3D breast cancer screenings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The screenings are aimed at the African diaspora, African American community, and those who may face financial barriers to accessing this service. The event will also focus on raising awareness about breast cancer and other prevalent health issues.
In addition to the mammography services, attendees can access blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, and cholesterol testing. Local health organizations and clinics will provide information on mental health resources, nutrition, and fitness. The fair aims to offer comprehensive health services and education to the local community.
Heather S. Byrne, a Breast Cancer Patient Navigator at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, will be the keynote speaker. She will address breast cancer awareness and the importance of regular screenings.
Winners Church tracks participation rates and follows up with attendees to assess the event’s impact on community health outcomes. Last year, the event led to an increase in early detection of health issues and a rise in health awareness. This year, the goal is to increase participation by 20% and extend outreach to underserved populations.
Winners Church located in Dumfries was founded December 12, 2010, under the pastoral guidance and leadership of the senior Pastor Henry Godwin. Then, it was known as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners House, VA.
Death Investigation – On August 7 at 9:56PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 1900 block of Fort Monroe Cr in Dumfries (22026) to investigate a death. When officers arrived at the home, two individuals, a 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, were located inside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds. Both parties were known to one another and pronounced dead on scene. At this time, the incident appears isolated to the residence and there is no active threat to the community. The identities of the deceased will be released pending next-of-kin notification. More information will be released when available. Anyone who may have information that can aid in the investigation is asked to contact the police. The investigation continues.
Original post 11:58 p.m. — A shooting occurred in the 1900 block of Fort Monroe Court in Dumfries, resulting in the deaths of two people in Williamstown. Police were called to the scene at 9:56 p.m. Upon arrival, authorities pronounced the victims dead.
Initial reports indicate the incident involved a man and a woman. Police have confirmed there is no threat to the public. Area residents should expect a continued police presence while the investigation is ongoing.
We’ll update this story as soon as we have new information.
INCIDENT: #Shooting | #Dumfries; Officers are investigating a shooting in the 1900 block of Fort Monroe Ct. in Dumfries. There is no threat to the public. Area residents can expect continued police presence while the investigation continues. pic.twitter.com/D7LauYBML4
— Prince William County Police Department (@PWCPolice) August 8, 2024
The Van Buren Road project in Prince William County has received approval from the Board of Supervisors. The project will build a four-lane road with a sidewalk on one side and a pedestrian path on the other, connecting Dumfries Road to Cardinal Drive, aiming to address traffic congestion and improve mobility in the area.
Mary Ankers of the Prince William County Public Works office presented the project, stating, "It will provide some congestion relief, enhanced mobility, include pedestrian facilities, and improve safety."
The project has spent $1.3 million on environmental documentation and will move forward with $8 million allocated for design funding. Ankers noted, "We do not have money for right-of-way, utilities, or construction at this time. We really don't have a good schedule set for this."
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The event featuring the Faycez-U-Know Band played from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Attendees are brought lawn chairs to enjoy the live music, family activities, and food trucks.
Additional concerts are planned for August 10 and August 24. Admission is free.
@DumfriesTownVA held a summer concert at Garrison Park, behind the town hall, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. pic.twitter.com/fSt9XwoJjo
— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) July 28, 2024
The Potomac Shores Trails Committee invites the public to participate in the Historic Dumfries Trail Walk on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This free event will take place along the scenic paths of Heritage Ridge Trail, located at the intersection of Potomac River Blvd and Belle Isle Drive in Dumfries, VA.
Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of local history, guided by experts from the Historic Dumfries organization. The walk will highlight significant events from the area’s past, including insights into the pre-colonial period, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War.
The event is designed to be educational and engaging, allowing attendees of all ages to gain a deeper understanding of the historical importance of the Dumfries area while enjoying the natural beauty of the Potomac Shores trails.
Attendees are asked to gather at the Heritage Ridge trailhead on Potomac River Blvd by 9 a.m. on the day of the event. This unique historical outing promises to be an enlightening experience for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
